Folding table



J. SILVERMAN FOLDING TABLE Aug. 30, 1932.

Filed May 24, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 30, 1932. J. slLvERMAN 1,875,269

FOLDING TABLE Filed May 24, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J- SILVERMAN FOLDING TABLE Aug' Filed May 24. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 51 @du Mmm 04% Patented Aug. 30, 1932 J-PATIINT ori-ICE UNrrEDI Il STATES JOSEPH SILVERMAN, oF` oHIcAGo, ILLrNoIs vFOLDING TABLE i yApplication led May 24,

This invention relates to foldin" tables and its objects are the provision o a generally improved and simplified* folding tableV i ly improved and simplified legstructure 'and generally improvedl and simplilied means interconnecting the several legs to foldand unfold said legs together easily and conveniently. l 4` The invention further provides a gener-y ally improved and vsimplifiedlocl; or latchmeans for locking the legs in unfolded or openposition for'use.

The further features of the present inv f vention as well as the advantages and distinctions over the prior art will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with an inspection of the accompanying drawings' in which Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a table em#-` bodying the present invention and showing the leg structure unfolded for use'in the vfull lines and in folded positionindotted lines, Figj2 is a vertical section taken'on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. i Fig.- 3 is a vertical section takenon the line 3--3 of 1.'

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing h the legs in open orunfolded position for use as and partially broken away. Y Fig. 5 is a detailed section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detailed section taken' on the line 6`6 of Fig. 1 f Fig. 7 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the lock or latch.` means for locking the legs in unfolded or open position. l

Fig. 8 is a detailed section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectionV taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a detailed section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary bottomV plan View of another embodiment .of the invention.`v`

192s. Y seriai Np. 280,125."

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on the line12-12 of Fig. 1l. l

F ig'. 13 is a horizontal section takenk on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

.Fig, 14 is a detailed section taken on the 55v line lll-14: of Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is a detailed section vtaken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 11 and showing a combined braceand pivot for the leg structure.

' Referring to the drawings, the table 60 yshown in Figs. 1l to 10 comprises a table top 5 preferably of Wood which may be finished or covered' as desired. It is to be understood, of course, that where I refer to the materials of the table these' materials are 05 with reference to the particular embodiment selected for illustration and may bevaried as desired within the scope of the present invention. The particular top 5 shown is of square configuration'but this may be varied 70 and they top may be of any other suitable or preferred conguration. The top 5 is provided marginally with a depending raily 6. Thecorners of the rail members 6 are shown asmiteredtogether at 7 in Fig. 1 and in 75 Figs. 2 and 3 the upper inner edges of the rail members 6 are shown as being scarfed at 8 to receive the marginal edges 9 of the top 5 which are shown` as secured in the 'scarfed upper edges of the rail members 6 S0 and preferably flush with the upper edges of the rail lmembers as by means of suitable Wood screws 10. f

` The leg lstructure vcomprises two pairs of legs 12, 12 and 13, 13. The legs 12, 12, which 85 may be of square section as shown or of any other suitable or preferred form are rigidly joined at ytheir upper ends by a rail member 14 Which extends between the upper ends of the legs 12, 12, and Vis joined at its opposite ends thereto.

The rail member 14 is also preferably o f wood and the legs 12, 12, form a rigid unitary leg structure pivoted at its opposite end at 15, 15, respectively, to oppositedepending siderails'6,6 of the table top. The pivots 15, 15,'Inay be in the forni of suitable pins headed at their outer ends, as shown, and passing through the rail members 6 and in axial valignment into the opposite ends of site outer ends for the particular manner Aof lpivoting or swingably mounting the leg structure may be otherwise varied within the scope of the present invention.

The other pair of legs 13, 13 are substantially identical with the legs-'12, 12 withthe exception that they are spaced closer tocured therein, vas. shown in Fig. 5.

gether to fold between the legs 12, 12, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The rail member 18 rigidly connecting the upper ends of the'legs 13, 13 extends therefromuat its opposite ends beyond the legs 13, 13, as indicatedat 19 in Fig. land the unitary leg and rail structure, 13, 13,18, is pivoted at its opposite ends at 20, 2O tothe depending side rails 6 of the-table top similar to the pivoting or hinging of .the leg structure 12, i2, i4.

For the purpose of swinging both leg structures toward folded or unfolded positions bythe swinging movement of either, these leg structures are interconnected at opposite sides of the table by connecting crank arms 22, 22. i

To facilitate connection of these rcrank arms 22 to the opposite ends of the leg structures 12, 12, 14 and 13, 13, 18, respectively, the opposite ends of each of these leg structures arek provided with angular metallic facing and attachment members 23 secured to the ends of the respectivelegv structures by means of screws 24, as shownin Fig. 5. hile the pivots' 15 and 20 have been previously referred to as entering the `opposite ends of the leg structures or as being adapt.- ed to extend entirely therethrough these pivots preferably enter only through the end fianges 25 of the angle members 23 and are preferably riveted over and suitably .se- 'Ihe opposite ends of the crank arms 22 are pivoted at 28 to the ends of the respective leg structures, the pivots 28 being preferably carried by and projecting outwardly'from the outer surfaces of the flanges 25 -of the angle members 23. The crank arms 22 operate along oppositesidesof the table between opposite depending tabletop rails 6 and the adjacent andsubstantially parallel flanges 25 of the *f angie members 23. In the open or unfolded position ofthe legs of the table the pivot28 at one' end of the crank arm 22 is above the pivot 15 andin position to be swung in a counterciockwise direction as the legs 12, 12 are swung to folded position and the pivotal connection 28 at the opposite 'end of the arm 22 is below the pivot 2O and in position to be swung in a clockwise direction by the closing movement of the legs 12 whereupon by grasping either the legs12 or the legs 13 and swinging the same to open or closed position will swing the other pair of legs toward or away from the arc of movement of the first pair of legs and into closed or open position therewith.

Each pair of legs 12, 12 and 13, 13 is provided with a generally V-shaped brace rod, 30v and 32,'res'pectively. These'rods 30 and 32 are preferably of suitable metal stock. The free ends of the brace 30 are secured at 34, 34 to the legs 12, 12 and the apex of this brace 30 is pivoted at 35 to a slide 36. The free ends of the` brace 32 are secured at 38 to the legs 13, 13 and the apex of the brace 32 is pivoted at 39 toa slide 40. The attachments 34 and 38 permit pivotal action of the adjacent ends of the braces 30 and 32, respectively, with reference to the adjacent legs 12 .and 13.

The slides 36 andl 40-are slidably secured to the bottom or under side of the table top 5 in a guide or track 45. The guide 45 which is shown as disposed centrally between and parallel withV a pair of opposite side rails 6 of the table top may be formed of suitable sheet metal with its upper wall (Figs. 6, 8, 9 and 10) depressed at 46 to form a guide or track. portion and with the opposite marginal edges of this depressed portion 46 rolled at 47 and turned inwardly at 48 to form retention flanges for holding the slides 36 and-40 in the guidel 45. As shown in Figs. 2 and 8 the slide 40 comprises anupper bar or member 50 slidable in the guide 45 and retained by the marginal flanges 48 and a pair of bars or members 51 riveted or otherwise suitably secured at 52 to the member 50 and fitting. between the fianges 48. One end of the lower bar or member 51 is shown as rolled ,around and pivotally connecting 'at 53 the adjacent end 39 of the V-shaped brace to the slide 40.

It will be noted that one of the latch parts is carried by and moves with one slide 36 and the other latch part is carried by and moves with the other slide which reduces the number of latch parts required to one on each movable slide and eliminates the necessity of additional relatively fixed or stationary latch parts on the bottom of the table top. The simple expediency of indenting the anges 48 of the guide and mounting member stops the respective slides in their movement toward each 'other ande assures proper relative positioning of these slides and the latch parts and proper engagement of the aperture 63 in the spring arm 60vwith the latch pin 64 in swinging the legs to open position. In opening or unfolding the legs the spring arm springs over the depending pin 64 and automatically engages the aperture 63 with .the pin 64 and the latch is released by grasping the down turned end 62 with the fingers and springing the aperture 63 out 'of engagement with the latch pin 64. As already pointed out, the grasping and swinging of either pair of legs 12, 12 or suitable fastening elements.

13, 13 to open or closed position swings the other pair of legs to open or closed position therewith through the crank arms 22.

For the purpose of locking the legs in folded or closed position one end of the spring is shown as extended at 95 and apertured at 96 to engage a latch pin 97 when the legs are folded or closed. The spring end springs or snaps over the pin 97 and automaticallyrengages the aperture 96 with the pin 97 as the legs of the table are folded. For releasing the spring end 95 from the pin 97 to permit opening or unfolding of the legs the end 95 may be turned down at 98 or otherwise formed to be conveniently grasped with the fingers. A similar spring latch may be provided on the slide 36ffor additionally locking the legs closed although the single latch 95 may be relied on for locking all four legs closed or this latch may be omitted entirely if desired. Obviously when the legs are open or unfolded the brace members 30 gnd 32 form effective diagonal braces there- In the embodiment of Figs. 11 to 15 the legs 12 and 13 instead of being connected for movement to open and closed positions together through the crank arms of the previous embodiment are connected for movement to open and closed positions together through the slides 36 and 40.

The opposite slideV 36 is similarly formed of members 50 and 51 secured together at 32 and with the lower member 51 rolled around and pivotally connecting the adjacent end of the brace 30 to the slide 36. The guide 45 is shown as being secured to the bottom of the table top 5 as by means of The marginal flanges 48 are preferably flattened or rolled up into substantially the plane of the intermediate portion 46 at the opposite ends of the guide 45, as indicated at 56 in Fig. 2, and these opposite ends of the guide 45 may extend, as shown in Fig. 2, between the pivoted ends of the leg structures and the bottom or under surface of the table top 5. rlhe slides 36 and 40 are stopped substantially centrally between the opposite ends of the guide and mounting member 45 in their movement toward each other in opening or unfolding the legs for use by stop means 58 which stop means 58 may be formed by indenting the intermediate portions of the flanges 48 up into the path of movement of the upper bars or members 502 and 503, respectively, of the slides 40 and 36. This assures proper termination of the opening or leg unfolding movement of each slide and proper positioning of these slides in the open or unfolded position of the leg structures.

For the purpose of locking or latclhing the legs of the table in unfolded or open position for use one of the slides 40 is provided with 4a spring arm 60 rigidly secured at one end to the slide 40 by means of the rivets 52 and the opposite'end of the spring arm 60" is A,

turned down at 62 to be conveniently grasped with `the fingers yfor the purpose ofconveniently releasing the latch. Spaced beyond the end of the slide 40 and between the end of the slide 40 and the down-turned'end 62 vof the spring arm this arm is provided with an aperture 63 and the'other slide 36 is provided with a depending latch pin 64 which is engageable in the aperture 63 for the purposeof locking or latching the slides 36 and 40 at the limits of their inward movement and the legs 12 an'd13in open position.V

ln this case the V-shaped braces 30 and 32A may be similar *o those previously described, pivoted at their apices to the slides 46 and 36, respectively, and pivoted at their outer ends at 34 and 38 to the legs 12 and 13 of the table. The pivoting of the apices of the V-shaped braces 30 and 32 to the slides 36 and 40 is indicated at 35 and 39', respectively.

In this embodiment, however, a cable, suitable wire or other suitable flexible element 7 O is anchored or secured at 71 to the slide 40 and is trained through the guide and mounting member 45 past the slide 36 and around a sheave 72 and is looped back and anchored'or. secured at 73 to theslide 36. A second suitable cable or other liexible element 74 is Vanchored or secured at 75 to the slide'36 and is trained through the guide and mounting member 45 past the slide 40 out around a sheave 76 and is looped back and anchored or -secured at 78 to the slide 40. The sheaves k7 2 and 76 may be mounted by suitable brackets 8() and 81, respectively, to the opposite depending rails 6 of the table top and at the opposite ends of the guide and mounting member 45. From the foregoing it will now be apparent that upon swinging either the legs l2 or the legs 13 to open or closed position, the other pair of legs will be swung to open or closed position therewith through the connecting flexible elements 70 and 74 and slides 36 and 40. When the slide 36 is moved outwardly from the position shownin Fig. 13 in swinging the legs 13 from folded to unfolded position, the flexible element 7 4 will dra-w the slide 40 in the opposite direction and swing the legs `12 to open position therewith and in grasping and closing either pair of legs, the other pair will be swung to closed position therewith through either the flexible` element 70 or the flexible element 74.

The inner sides of the rails 6 may be provided with suitable metal facings 84 adjacent the .sheaves 72 and 76, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. -The latch means of the previous embodiment is shown in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 11 to 15,`and the parts thereof are indicated by primed reference characters corresponding to the reference characters applied to these parts inthe previous embodiment. It is also to be understood thatpthe guide and mounting member 45 of'this embodiment may be and is preferably provided With suitable stop means for limiting the movement of the slides 86 and 40 toward each other and for properly terminating and positioning these slides in the open or unfolded position of the legs of the table.

In this embodiment, however, vtheattachment of the legs 12', for example, to the rail 14 of the legstrncture is braced by a suitable metal brace 86 of angular formation ,secured at 87 tothe leg l2 and at 88 to the rail 14. The end of this brace member 86 extends out and may be rounded at 90 and this projecting end 90 forms the pivot at one end of the leg structure which pvot is pivotally journaled in the adjacent rail member 6 of the table top. As shown in I? ig. l5, the portions of the rail member 6 pivotally journaling the pivots 90 may be provided With suitableA metal facings 92 suitably secured thereto at 93.

I do not intend, of course, to be limited to the precise details shownV or described.

I claim:

l. In combination, a table top, a pair of folding leg structures therefora pair of V- shaped brace members having sliding connec tion at their apices with the bot-tom of the table top andeach pivoted at opposite ends to the leg structures, and a pair of latch members one on the slidingly connected apex of each of said brace members, said latch members being movable toward and from each other with said brace members and engage* able with each other to lock said leg structures in unfolded position for use.

2. In combination, a table top, a pair of folding leg structures therefor, and a spring latch element having an aperture at one of its ends for registering with a pin for locking said legs in folded position and another aperture in its opposite end for registering with a? second pin for locking said legs in an unfolded position.

3. In combination, a table top, a folding leg Structure therefor, a brace for said leg structure having sliding attachment to said top andV spring mounted on the slidingly attached brace and having an aperture engaged by a pin for locking said leg structure in open position and a second aperture engaged by a second pin for locking the structure in closed position.

In Witness WhereofI have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May, A. D., 1928.

JOSEPH SILVERMAN. 

